10 Awesome Things To Do In Melbourne This Weekend

This weekend's wrap-up of Melbourne-based activities covers all the bases with the kick-off of the Melbourne Food And Wine Festival, the return of the Pet Show, and an open-air cinema inside Pentridge Prison. Be sure to embrace the early days of autumn before the weather takes a sharp right into colder conditions. 

Here are 10 awesome things to do in Melbourne this weekend:

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival  

Prepare to be engulfed in a world of flavour, fusion, and culture, Melburnians. This Friday 24 March, the annual Melbourne Food & Wine Festival begins, offering our city a massive 10-day programme of gourmet goodness. This weekend, grab your pals and eat up a New York-Italian feast by Mitch Orr at Ronnie's, test out the game-changing Asian-Mexican menu with crispy barramundi tacos and chipotle chicken empanadas at Rice Paper Scissors, or pop over to the Convenient Store to snatch up a range of on-the-go snacks.

THE DETAILS:

When: Various Times, Friday 24 March until Sunday 2 April
Where: Various Locations
For more information, click here. 

The 2023 Ricotta Festival 

Ricotta lovers, this one is for you. Australia’s first and only Riccota Festival will be in full swing this Sunday, and you bet it’s bigger and better than ever before. The event includes a day full of food, fun and entertainment making it the perfect Sunday outing. Sip on an Aperol and fill your tummy with authentic Woodfired Neapolitan pizza by Primo Street Pizza or a jumbo porchetta roll by That’s Amore Cheese. Digest the carbs by dancing the Tarantella or taking a walk through the local marketplace to stock up on some handcrafted Salami, Italian Chilli Oil and EVOO (of course). Finish the day off with a freshly filled Ricotta Cannoli by the Cannoleria team, or go back for seconds. Ciao! 

THE DETAILS:

When: 10am to 4pm, Sunday 26 March
Where: That's Amore Cheese, 66 Latitude Boulevard, Thomastown
For more information, click here. 

Pentridge Open-Air Cinema 

See movie classics like never before in a striking setting inside the former prison's 1850s bluestone walls. This weekend, you and your buddies can watch movies including The Big Blue, John Wick: Chapter 4, and Top Gun at the final Pentridge Open-Air Outdoor Cinema screenings of the season. Have a drink at the pop-up bar, enjoy live entertainment, and on some sessions, take part in a heated game of trivia.   Pro tip: get there early to save a deck chair (or book online to save the hassle).

THE DETAILS:

When: Various times, Thursday 15 December until Sunday 26 March
Where: Pentridge Cinemas, 1 Champ Street, Coburg
For more information, click here.

The Convenient Store

7-Eleven has teamed up with some of Melbourne’s most-loved chefs to bring you The Convenient Store. As part of the MFWF, the pop-up shop will showcase a number of new offerings from 7-Eleven’s elevated deli experience, Johnny’s Deli. the menu boasts bespoke bites that have been crafted in collaboration with some of Melbourne’s top chefs and restaurants, including Shannon Martinez and Victor Liong. Try out their festival-special sandwiches and finish off with some sweet treats such as panettone hot-cross buns from To Be Frank or creamy banana-bread ice cream from Brunswick Icon, Luther's Scoops. 

THE DETAILS:

When: 8am to 8pm, Friday 24 March to Sunday 2 April
Where: Federation Square 
For more information, click here.

The Pet Show 

Pay tribute to your four-legged pals at The Pet Show. Learn everything you need to know about dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles, and tiny animals across a jam-packed two days. Throughout the vast event schedule, brush up on your understanding of positive pet ownership. Walk around the many zones such as dog town and cat down, participate in the Veterinary Activity Maze, buy some new accessories for your pet, and listen to interactive stage shows from industry specialists such as Dr Katrina Warren, Dr Kate Adams, and many more. 

THE DETAILS:

When: 10am to 4pm, Saturday 25 March until Sunday 26 March 
Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale
For more information, click here.

Rupi Kaur At Hamer Hall

This Sunday at Hamer Hall, enjoy a night of passionate poetry by the literary phenomenon, Rupi Kaur.  Through the engaging performance, you will be led on a journey of development, love, loss, friendship, and mental health. Expect to hear world-renowned hits from her classics such as ‘Milk and Honey’ and ‘The Sun’, as well as new and unpublished pieces. Reconnect with yourself and those around you as you enter a brand-new spoken poetry universe.

THE DETAILS:

When: 7:30pm, Sunday 26 March 
Where: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank
For more information, click here.

Melbourne Now At The NGV 

Celebrate new and ambitious local art and design at Melbourne Now. The annual exhibition is displayed throughout all levels of The Ian Potter Centre at the NGV, highlighting the very latest art, design, and cultural practice that is currently shaping the city of Melbourne. View projects across a range of disciplines including Design Wall celebrating fashion, Vessels showcasing sculpture, Slippery Images highlighting photography, as well as many more including ceramics, video, publishing and architecture. 

THE DETAILS:

When: 7:30pm, Thursday 24 March until Saturday 20 August
Where: The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square, Flinders Street & Russell Street
For more information, click here

A Walk In The Park 

Lace up your runners and join hundreds of Aussies for A Walk in The Park. The Fight Parkinsons community's fundraiser event aims to shed light on Parkinson's disease, allowing them to continue providing the most advanced information and education to individuals living with the disease. The walk will take place this Sunday at Federation Square, with registrations open now and on the day. Whether you choose the 2km or 4km route, you can make a difference in people's lives simply by walking.

THE DETAILS:

When: 8:30am Registrations / 10:30am Walk, Thursday 24 March until Saturday 20 August
Where: Federation Square, Swanston Street & Flinders Street, Melbourne
For more information, click here.

African Music and Cultural Festival 

Immerse yourself in a land of African culture at the Immigration Museum. This Saturday, as part of the 2023 Cultural and Diversity Week, the African Music and Cultural Festival invites you and your friends to embrace the tastes, sounds, and rhythms of the region. Watch the dazzling Kwacha Fashion show with clothes created out of African Wax, dance to Reggae beats by Disun Future, take part in drumming classes and eat up a range of different African cuisine at the special event. 

THE DETAILS:

When: 10am to 10pm, Saturday 25 March
Where: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
For more information, click here.

Billy Connolly's Art Exhibition At Jasper Hotel 

Enjoy a rare, limited-edition exhibition of Billy Connolly's one-of-a-kind artwork. The exhibition, which is being shown at The Jasper Hotel, showcases a variety of rare and unique works of art that are comparable to the cave drawings from the Aurignacian Period and depict self-awareness, humanity, and emotion. There will also be a collection of Billy's sculptures, limited edition prints, and unique original artwork for purchase. 

THE DETAILS:

When: 10am to 5pm, Thursday 16 March until Sunday 26 March
Where: Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
For more information, click here.

Pick Your Own Sunflowers At The OG Spot in Dunnstown

Time to get out your phones for the perfect photo op, because the original place to take the most aesthetic pic for the IG is coming back. Dunnstown is the home of the first sunflower-picking farm, and it remains one of the prettiest rural sights in the state.  Of course, this is Victoria after all, so the exact opening date is weather dependent but the flowers usually start blooming from February through to March. Photoshoots aside, you can buy and pick your own sunflowers to take home and brighten up your abode. Dogs are also welcome there so feel free to bring your pooch along for the drive.

THE DETAILS:

When: TBC
Where: Dunnstown, Victoria
For more information, click here.

Make a day of it and hit up some of Melbourne's best spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner:

Melbourne's best restaurants
Melbourne's best cafes
Melbourne's best bars
Melbourne's best breakfast
Melbourne's best Japanese
50 epic things to do in Melbourne all year 'round

Image credit: Paul Macallan (Unsplash)